The German's sinking the English carrier was only the beginning, it wasn't long before the War had come to England in earnest. After their anniversary Frank only got worse, it was like something inside him had been set lose. He was cleaver tho, he never left any marks on her, or behaved anything but the perfect gentlemen when they were with company. Claire was starting to feel as though the walls around her were closing in and this was doomed to be her life forever. It was a good few months after that fateful night in 1939 that hope returned to Claire, that perhaps her life would consist of more than being under Frank's thumb. They were playing the perfect couple and hosting farewell drinks for a top lieutenant bound for France the next day. It had come up how desperate the men were getting for medical care if they were lucky enough to make it off the battlefields at all they were stuck dying of infection from some rushed poorly done surgery. Claire informed her guest she had studied as a nurse and would be honored to do her part. The man was surprised and looked to Frank, Claire could see he was about to dismiss her suggestion but she quickly jumped in.
"I mean I am ever so proud of my husband for all he does to keep us all safe here at home but to have the skills to be able to help other's husbands who aren't at home... well it seems very wrong of me not to do all I can in helping those brave men make it back safe."
The Lieutenant studied her for a moment,
"Well yes, having the means to help in this war effort and not volunteering in favor of one's own comfort is certainly not the most honorable thing. If your husband would allow it we would be grateful to have you join us tomorrow. The train departs early but surely Frank would be able to get you the necessary papers."
He looked over to Frank now who surprisingly didn't miss a beat,
"I should miss her dreadfully but as you say keeping her here would be the selfish thing to do when so many of our brave boys need her elsewhere, I shall make a few phone calls if that is truly what you wish?" He asked turning to Claire.
Claire knew as soon as their guests left she would be paying dearly for this act of rebellion but it might have been years before another opportunity to get away from Frank presented itself, as long as she was still alive in the morning to get on that train she reasoned any price she had to pay tonight would be worth it.
While the next 6 years stole millions of lives and ruined countries Claire had learned to love the war, she was her own person worthy of respect not just Mrs. Frank Randall. It wasn't the total reprieve she was hoping for, every so often a well dressed officer, seemingly untouched by war would stare her down. Claire knew it was Frank proving his reach was far and wide and if she had any plans to use the war as cover to escape he would quickly have her recovered. Somedays she could swear she felt his very breath down her neck as she worked but it was still far more freedom then she ever thought she'd taste again.
When the Germans surrendered she actually broke down crying, everyone around her assumed they were happy tears and she like the rest was so relieved to finally be going home, but that was far from the truth.
While she had spent the last 6 years learning to restore man's body and spirit Frank had been learning how to break them. He had honed his darkest skills and been applauded and honored for it. And he was only to happy to show her once she was home again.